Genesis 16

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 16

Chapter 16 Hagar is the person mostly concerned in the story of this chapter, an obscure Egyptian woman, whose name and story we never should have heard of if Providence had not brought her into the family of Abram. Probably she was one of those maid-servants whom the king of Egypt, among other gifts, bestowed upon Abram, Gen. 14:16. Concerning her, we have four things in this chapter:?I. Her marriage to Abram her master, Gen. 16:1-3. II. Her misbehaviour towards Sarai her mistress, Gen.... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 16:1-3

I. The maker of this match (would one think it?) was Sarai herself: she said to Abram, I pray thee, go in unto my maid, Gen. 16:2. Note, 1. It is the policy of Satan to tempt us by our nearest and dearest relations, or those friends that we have an opinion of and an affection for. The temptation is most dangerous when it is sent by a hand that is least suspected: it is our wisdom therefore to consider, not so much who speaks as what is spoken. 2. God's commands consult our comfort and honour... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 16:4-6

We have here the immediate bad consequences of Abram's unhappy marriage to Hagar. A great deal of mischief it made quickly. When we do not well both sin and trouble lie at the door; and we may thank ourselves for the guilt and grief that follow us when we go out of the way of our duty. See it in this story. I. Sarai is despised, and thereby provoked and put into a passion, Gen. 16:4. Hagar no sooner perceives herself with child by her master than she looks scornfully upon her mistress,... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 16:7-9

Here is the first mention we have in scripture of an angel's appearance. Hagar was a type of the law, which was given by the disposition of angels; but the world to come is not put in subjection to them, Heb. 2:5. Observe, I. How the angel arrested her in her flight, Gen. 16:7. It should seem, she was making towards her own country; for she was in the way to Shur, which lay towards Egypt. It were well if our afflictions would make us think of our home, the better country. But Hagar was now out... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 16:10-14

We may suppose that the angel having given Hagar that good counsel (Gen. 16:9) to return to her mistress she immediately promised to do so, and was setting her face homeward; and then the angel went on to encourage her with an assurance of the mercy God had in store for her and her seed: for God will meet those with mercy that are returning to their duty. I said, I will confess, and thou forgavest, Ps. 32:5. Here is, I. A prediction concerning her posterity given her for her comfort in her... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 16:15-16

It is here taken for granted, though not expressly recorded, that Hagar did as the angel commanded her, returning to her mistress and submitting herself; and then, in the fulness of time, she brought forth her son. Note, Those who obey divine precepts shall have the comfort of divine promises. This was the son of the bond-woman that was born after the flesh (Gal. 4:23), representing the unbelieving Jews, Gal. 4:25. Note, 1. Many who can call Abraham father are 608 yet born after the flesh,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 16

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 16 This chapter gives an account of Abram's marrying his maid, at the instance of his wife Sarai, Genesis 16:1 , who, upon conceiving, despised her mistress; of which complaint is made to Abram, who leaving his maid to his wife, to deal with her as she pleased, dealt harshly by her, and therefore fled from her, Genesis 16:4 ; when she was met by an angel, who advised her to return and submit herself to her mistress, and told her her seed would be greatly... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 16:1

Now Sarai, Abram's wife, bare him no children ,.... She is before said to be barren, and he to be childless, Genesis 11:30 ; God had promised him a seed, but as yet he had none, which was a trial of his faith; he had been married many years to Sarai his wife, she was his wife when they came out of Ur of the Chaldees, and how long before cannot be said; they stayed and dwelt some time at Haran, the Jews F24 Seder Olam Rabba, p. 2. say five years, and they had been now ten years in the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 16:2

And Sarai said unto Abram, behold now, the Lord hath restrained me from bearing ,.... Or, "hath shut me up" F4 עצרני "couclusit me", V. L. Pagninus, Montanus, Vatablus, Drusius, Schmidt; "occlusit me", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Cocceius. ; that is, her womb, as were the wombs of the house of Abimelech, Genesis 20:18 ; so that she could not conceive and bear children; she now at this age despaired of having children, perceiving very probably that it ceased to be with her... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 16:3

And Sarai, Abram's wife, took Hagar her maid, the Egyptian ,.... Took her by the hand, it is probable, and led her into the apartment where Abram was, and presented her to him; their characters are very exactly described, and the contrast beautifully given, that the affair might be the more remarkable and observable: after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan ; so that he was now eighty five years of age, for he was sventy five when he departed from Haran and came into Canaan,... read more

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